Two types of Siberian fish 'lead the world in richness of their Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids'

The Yenisei River omul and Sobachye ('dog's') Lake whitefish tip the scales compared favourably with other fish, including those caught at sea, a new study shows. 

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are some of the most essential components of everyday diet, of which sea fish are seen as the key source. 

Recommended daily intake is one gram a day. 

Yet Siberian river fish - two species at least - are seen as high performers. 

Omul from the Yenisei contains about 17.6 milligrams of Omega-3 fatty acids per gram, whitefish from the lake on the Taimyr peninsula has 16.6 milligrams of Omega-3 fatty acids per gram. 

Dr Mikhail Gladyshev, deputy director of the Institute of Biophysics of the Krasnoyarsky Scientific Centre, said: 'People do not always have an opportunity to eat seafood.

'At the same time, many types of freshwater fish are so poor in polyunsaturated fatty acids, that even eating a kilogramme will not replenish a daily amount. 

'Our northern fish are very rich in Omega-3.'

He said: 'This is related to special living conditions of the fish, natural, often untouched by human ecosystems with diverse food.

'We found out that exactly the same types of fish living in different conditions can have a very low amount of good acids.'  

So it's also due to the pristine Siberian nature. 

Researchers say habitat, food and genetic predisposition are all key factors.

The research was conducted by the Krasnoyarsk Scientific Centre, part of the Siberian branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, along with Siberian Federal University (Krasnoyarsk) and several other academic institutions .